What happened…
Man City Women snatched a late 2-1 victory over Bristol City to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Nikita Parris’ deflected effort two minutes from time handed Nick Cushing’s side the win, after Claire Emslie had cancelled out Steph Houghton’s opener.
The result maintained the Blues’ 100% start to the season with three wins from three.
Having never reached the final, City highlighted the FA Cup as a major target ahead of the new campaign.
Their desire showed. Having started brightly, the visitors opening the scoring after just seven minutes. After Tessel Middag was thwarted by Caitlin Leach in the Bristol goal, the ball was hooked back into the box and Houghton muscled in to poke the ball over the line.
The hosts responded well to falling behind and Marie Hourihan was called into action to deny Millie Turner with an excellent low stop.
At the other end, the influential Parris was at the heart of City’s most threatening attacks – first setting up Toni Duggan who skewed wide and then crossing for Georgia Stanway to head over.
Hourihan then prevented Millie Farrow from levelling the score as the striker bore down on goal, while Parris missed the chance to double the Blues’ advantage, as her effort cleared the bar.
Bristol drew level on the stroke of half-time as Emslie weaved her way into the box and drilled into the bottom corner at the second attempt.
The Blues pressed for a winner in the second half.
Carli Lloyd went close on two occasions in quick succession, forcing Leach into a fine stop and then volleying over from the resulting corner.
With the home side defending resiliently as City piled on the pressure, the tie looked to be heading for a draw but Parris had other ideas and drove a low shot goalward which ricocheted in to send Cushing’s side through.
What it means…
City progress to the semi-finals, where they will face either Birmingham, Chelsea or Liverpool.
The draw will be made on Monday 27 March at approximately 2:45pm and will be broadcast on Radio 5Live.
The final is at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 13 May.
How they lined up…
With perhaps half an eye on Thursday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Fortuna Hjorring, Cushing made a host of changes.
The back four of Demi Stokes, Houghton, Abbie McManus and Lucy Bronze remained the same, while Hourihan replaced Karen Bardsley.
Middag took the place of Keira Walsh in defensive midfield, just behind Lloyd and Izzy Christiansen, who came in for Jill Scott.
Melissa Lawley and Kosovare Asllani were rested, making way for Duggan and Parris to be employed on the wings. Stanway led the line upfront.
